History of Westchester County,

Nathalie Bailey Morris photographs of American Gothic Revival architecture 3460635Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library

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This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2024-10-16 18:38:43 -0400.Description is written in: English, Latin script.Describing Archives: A Content Standard2007-11-14File created.2009-07-23File revised.2019-05-20EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration. Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library Nathalie Bailey Morris photographs of American Gothic Revival architecture Morris, Alletta Nathalie Lorillard Bailey, 1887-1935 Howells, John Mead, 1868-1959 Champenois, J. J Stokes, I. N. Phelps (Isaac Newton Phelps), 1867-1944 Mayer, Grace M. Stearns, Robert B Austin, Emma Clifton Kolff, Cornelius G 3460635 English . 0.25 linear feet of paper materials 1853-1937 1933-1934 1,134 photographs Restrictions on Access

This collection is available for use by appointment in the Department of Drawings & Archives, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, Columbia University. For further information, please email avery-drawings@library.columbia.edu.

Preferred Citation

Nathalie Bailey Morris photographs of American Gothic Revival architecture. Dept. of Drawings & Archives, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, Columbia University, New York, N.Y.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Permission to publish must be obtained in writing from the Director, Avery Architectural & Fine Arts Library, Columbia University, 1172 Amsterdam Ave., MC 0301, New York, NY 10027.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Source of acquisition--Gift of Elizabeth M. Smith, pre-1978. Accession number--1000.055.

Biographical / Historical

Alletta Nathalie Lorillard Bailey Morris (1883-1935) was born to a socially prominent New York City family and in her adult life was active in civic and charity work. She was also an amateur architectural historian and photographer, particularly dedicated to documenting works of 19th-century American Gothic Revival architecture in the Mid-Atlantic and New England states. Her interest may have been spurred in part by the summer house she and her husband, Lewis Gouverneur Morris, owned in Newport, Rhode Island. A large villa in the Gothic Revival style"Malbone" was designed in 1848-1850 by noted American architect Alexander Jackson Davis. From the 1910s through the early 1930s, Morris was driven by her husband or chauffeur to many notable sites of Gothic Revival architecture so that she could photograph extant conditions.

Scope and Content

The collection includes 1134 images (photographs and postcards, with some duplicates) of approximately 60 buildings, including some earlier photographs, plans, and renderings that Morris copied to add context to her own contemporary photographs. Of properties with identified architects, the great majority were designed by Alexander Jackson Davis, with a few examples of the work of Richard Upjohn, James Renwick, and several other lesser-known architects. Major sites depicted include Lyndhurst, Tarrytown, N.Y.; Fonthill Castle, Bronx, N.Y.; Lovat, Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y.; Hurst-Pierrepont, Garrison, N.Y.; Belvoir, Yonkers, N.Y.; Beechwood, Yonkers, N.Y.; Mount Ida, Troy, N.Y., Llewellyn Park, Orange, N.J.; and Malbone, Newport, R.I. Some 18th-century buildings, and one 17th-century building (the Christopher Billop House, near Tottenville, Staten Island, built circa 1699), are also depicted.

Scope and Content

Also included is correspondence to Morris about her research from Emma Clifton Austin; J. J. Champenois; John Mead Howells; Cornelius G. Kolff; Grace M. Mayer (Museum of the City of New York); Renwick, Aspinwall & Guard; Robert B. Sterns; and Isaac Newton Phelps Stokes; as well as several published articles and Morris' own research notes. Lastly, of special interest are nine photographs of the official opening of the George Washington Bridge in 1931.

Related Collections

See also the Alexander Jackson Davis architectural drawings and papers, the Richard Upjohn and Richard Michell Upjohn architectural drawings, and the Leslie O. Merrill Collection of Greek Revival in Syracuse held in the Department of Drawings and Archives at the Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Libraries.

Organization and Arrangement

This collection is organized in four series: Mounted Photographs; Ringbound Photographs; Loose Images; and Papers.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Annemarie van Roessel, Archivist, Dept. of Drawings & Archives, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, in January 2008.

Custodial History

Gift of Elizabeth M. Smith, pre-1978. (1000.055)

Architecture, Domestic -- New York (State) -- New York Architecture, Domestic -- New York (State) Architecture, Domestic -- New Jersey Architecture, Domestic -- Pennsylvania Buildings -- New York (State) -- New York Buildings -- New York (State) -- Westchester County Buildings -- New Jersey Buildings -- Pennsylvania Buildings -- New York (State) -- Irvington Buildings -- New York (State) -- Yonkers Buildings -- New York (State) -- Hastings on Hudson Buildings -- New York (State) -- Garrison Buildings -- New York (State) -- Troy Dwellings -- New York (State) -- New York George Washington Bridge (New York, N.Y.) Staten Island (New York, N.Y.) -- Buildings, structures, etc Postcards Photographic prints Photographers Women photographers Davis, Alexander Jackson, 1803-1892 Renwick, James, 1818-1895 Stagg, David I., 1816-1886 Upjohn, Richard, 1802-1878 Wells, Joseph C Renwick, Aspinwall & Guard (Firm) Lyndhurst (Tarrytown, N.Y.) Fonthill Castle (New York, N.Y.) Lovat (Hasting-on-Hudson, N.Y.) Hurst Pierrepont (Garrison, N.Y.) Belvoir (Yonkers, N.Y.) Beechwood (Yonkers, N.Y.) Mount Ida (Troy, N.Y.) Christopher Billop House (Staten Island, New York, N.Y.) Series 1: Mounted PhotographsScope and Contents

N. B. Numbers in parentheses indicate quantity of duplicate prints.

Arrangement

This series is subdivided into four major geographic areas, and therein projects are listed in alphabetical order by state, city, and project name.

Subseries A: Hudson River Valley, New YorkWardhaven Hall, Albany.1926, 1933Items: 2 (2)11Ingleside, Dobbs Ferry. A. J. Davis, arch., 1853.undatedItems: 7 (4)12Hurst Pierrepont, Garrison. A. J. Davis, arch.,1863.undatedItems: 12 (12)13Lovat, Hastings-on-Hudson. Built by Thomas Fraser, circa 1850undatedItems: 15 (15)14Edmund Coffin Residence and Gatehouse, Irvington. Built circa 1850.undatedItems: 7 (1)15Gray Gables, Irvington. Built by T. A. Strange, circa 1882.undatedItems: 3 (3)16Lyndhurst, Irvington (now Tarrytown). A. J. Davis, arch., 1840.undatedItems: 8 (38)17Scope and Contents

Exterior views.

Lyndhurst, Irvington (now Tarrytown). A. J. Davis, arch., 1840.undatedItems: 14 (5)18Scope and Contents

Interior views.

Ridgeview or Stern Castle, Irvington. A. J. Davis, arch., circa 1874.undatedItems: 1 (1)19Strawberry Hill, Irvington. Built for John Thomas, circa 1855.undatedItems: 1 (1)110Scope and Contents

Also known as the William Barton residence.

Fonthill Castle, Mt. St. Vincent-on-Hudson. Thomas C. Smith, possible arch., 1847.undatedItems: 23 (23)111a) Gothic gateposts, b) Urn at former Van Duser Place, c) Gate House at Frederick Delano Place, d) Washington's Headquarters, all in or near Newburgh.1933Items: 4 (4)112Gate House, south of Poughkeepsie.1933Items: 4 (4)113Ericstan or Eric's Castle, Tarrytown. A. J. Davis, arch., 1855.undatedItems: 1 (1)114Pokahoe, Tarrytown. Built by J. W. Webb, 1848.undatedItems: 8 (8)115Rockwood Hall (orig. William Rockefeller House) and Gatehouse, Tarrytown. G. Wheeler, arch., circa 1854.undatedItems: 8 (8)116Mt. Ida, Troy. A. J. Davis, arch., 1838.1933Items: 16 (15)117United States Military Academy, library, arsenal and cottage, West Point.1933Items: 9 (18)118Beechwood, Yonkers. Built circa 1861.undatedItems: 10 (10)119Scope and Contents

Includes windmill and summer house on Kingman estate.

Belvoir, Yonkers. Thomas S. Wall, 1854.undatedItems: 28 (27)120Gothic House, 107 Buena Vista Ave., Yonkers.undatedItems: 4 (4)121Lyndhurst, Ericstan, and Rockwood Hall.undatedItems: 3 (3)122Scope and Contents

Color photomechanical prints

Subseries B: New York City, New YorkKingsbridge Hotel, Broadway and Old Farmers Bridge Rd., Bronx.1910Items: 2123Old Dyckman Cemetery, near Fordham, Bronx.1910Items: 5124Scope and Contents

Includes view of Morris with her husband and their first car, a Matheson.

Seaman-Drake Mansion, Kingsbridge, Bronx. Built by Valentine Seaman, circa 1890.1933Items: 12125Two unidentified residences, near Morris Heights, Bronx.1910Items: 3126Brooklyn City Prison, Lafayette St. and Ashland Pl., Brooklyn.1933Items: 4 (4)127Views of Manhattan's southern tip and New York bay.1932Items: 7128Mrs. Robert Bacon Townhouse, 1 Park Ave. at 34th St., Manhattan.1933Items: 5 (4)129Cathedral of St. John the Divine, Manhattan.1910Items: 3130William Dyckman House, Broadway at 204th St., Manhattan. Built 1783.1910 and undatedItems: 2, with 7 postcards131George Washington Bridge, official opening ceremony, Manhattan.1931 Oct 24Items: 9132James W. Gerard Townhouse on Grammercy Park, Manhattan. Built circa 1830-1840.1907Items: 1133Scope and Contents

Image copied from an unidentified published source.

Archibald Gracie Mansion, Manhattan.1924, 1925, 1927Items: 7134Hunter College, Park Ave. at 68th St. and 69th St., Manhattan. D. I. Stagg, arch., circa 1870.1933Items: 10 (9)135Jumel Mansion, Manhattan. Built by Roger Morris, 1765.1910 and undatedItems: 7, with 10 postcards136Scope and Contents

Includes view of Morris' first car, a Matheson.

James Lenox townhouse, 53 Fifth Ave. at 12th St., Manhattan. Built by James Lenox.undatedItems: 1137Lewis Morris Rutherfurd Townhouse, Second Ave, Manhattan.1932Items: 2138St. Marks-in-the-Bowerie, Manhattan.1917Items: 14139Abigail Adams Smith Mansion, "Mount Vernon," 421 E. 61st St., Manhattan. Built by Col. William Smith, 1796-1798.undatedItems: 10140Tombs Prison, Lafayette St., Manhattan. Withers & Dickson, archs., 1896.1933Items: 6 (6)141Townhouses, 9 and 11 Lexington Ave. at 22nd St., Manhattan.1933Items: 2142Woodcliff, Fort Washington, Manhattan. A. J. Davis, arch., 1855.1924Items: 7 (3)143Scope and Contents

Includes views of unidentified hexagonal residence and Washington Heights.

Banker House, Staten Island. Built by Obadiah Brown (?), circa 1804.1933Items: 2 (2)144Christopher Billop House, near Tottenville, Staten Island, circa 1699.1932Items: 4145Janssen House, New Brighton, Staten Island. Built by P. Kissam(?), circa 1845.1933Items: 3 (3)146Smith-Ely House, New Brighton, Staten Island. A. J. Davis, arch., 1849.1933Items: 4 (4)147Subseries C: Eastern Westchester County, New YorkSan Souci, New Rochelle. A. J. Davis, arch., 1859.undatedItems: 4 (4)148Scope and Contents

Images are copied from earlier views.

Wild Cliff, New Rochelle. A. J. Davis, arch., 1852.1870Items: 1 (1)149Scope and Contents

Copy of image given to Morris by Mrs. Stuart Scott, descendant of owner's family.

Bolton Priory, Pelham. Built by Rev. Robert Bolton, 1832.1860, 1932-1933Items: 6 (1)150Scope and Contents

Includes view from unidentified source showing house in 1860.

Gothic Pavilion on former Jay Estate, Rye. A. J. Davis, arch., 1849.1932Items: 5 (5)151Scope and Contents

Includes copy of earlier image given to Morris by Miss Mary Rutherford Jay.

Whitby (Rye Country Club), Rye. A. J. Davis, 1852.1932Items: 10 (7), with 2 postcards152Scope and Contents

Includes copy prints of earlier views.

S. E. Lyon House, White Plains. A. J. Davis, arch., 1842.1933Items: 6 (6)153Subseries D: Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode IslandMontevideo, Avon, CT.1933Items: 14 (12)154Bishop House, Bridgeport, CT. Built by S. R. Tomlinson, circa 1840-1850.1933Items: 11 (11)155Harral Mansion, Bridgeport, CT. A. J. Davis, arch., 1846.1933Items: 12 (12)156Mrs. Franklin B. Dexter Residence, 178 Prospect St., New Haven, CT.1933Items: 5 (2)21Martinstow, near New Haven, CT. James Renwick, arch., 1851.1933Items: 9 (9)22Stonington Manor Inn, Stonington, CT.1933Items: 9 (8)23Garrison House, Orange, NJ. A. J. Davis, arch., 1859.1933Items: 11 (11)24Joseph Howard House, Orange, NJ. A. J. Davis, arch.1933Items: 6 (6)25Main Gate Lodge for Llewellyn Park, Orange, NJ. A. J. Davis, arch., 1862.1933Items: 3 (3)26Thomas Merrick House, Llewellyn Park, Orange, NJ. A. J. Davis, arch., 1858.1933Items: 327Unidentified residence and barn, Llewellyn Park, Orange, NJ.1933Items: 1028Unidentified house, Orange Mountain, Orange, NJ.1933Items: 529Wildmount, Montclair or Bloomfield, NJ. A. J. Davis, arch., 1863.1933Items: 7 (7)210"The Highlands," Ambler, PA. Built by A. Morris, 1796.1929Items: 3 (3)211Gothic House, Mary St., Newport, RI.1933Items: 3 (2)212Kingscote, Bellevue Ave., Newport, RI. Richard Upjohn, arch., 1838.1933Items: 21 (18)213Series 2: Ringbound PhotographsAll images date from 1933.Scope and Contents

Two binders, A and B, were compiled by Morris and contain 170 individual black and white photographic prints and black and white and color postcards of varying sizes, cornered in pages, with brief descriptions of the properties, architects, and owners. In addition to Morris's own photography, images include views, renderings, and plans from other sources. Many photographs and views are dated.

Arrangement

Photographs in this series are listed in the order in which they are found in each binder.

Subseries A: Ringbinder A1. David Kennedy Residence, 41 Fifth Ave. (at 11th St.), Manhattan, NY.Items: Interior - 33Scope and Contents

Includes two photographs of watercolors by Alethea Hill Platt, 1890.

2. Smith-Ely House, New Brighton, Staten Island, NY. A. J. Davis, arch.Items: Exterior - 23Scope and Contents